Seasonal Tips for Dealing with Eczema

When you are an eczema sufferer, sometimes it can feel like nature has turned against you. When it gets hot outside and everyone is showing off their new swimsuits, you are covering up your eczema.

As soon as it turns cold and everyone is going out to enjoy the snow, here comes the eczema again to keep you indoors.

It is not acceptable to miss out on life because of your eczema. You should not feel trapped indoors and missing out on seasonal festivities with your loved ones.

Nor should you be forced to cover up your skin for fear of an awkward public reaction to your skin. Fortunately, with a little extra planning and some quality remedies for eczema, you no longer have to.

Summer

It has turned hot outside. All year long you everyone waits for the lazy days of summer where they can get outdoors, work in the yard, lounge by a pool, and do countless other summer activities.

However, eczema sufferers look at this time with fear and worry that is no longer needed.

There are two main eczema issues in the summer: sweat and sun. While they may seem very similar, they are dealt with is differently. Therefore it is best to address them individually.

Sweat may seem like a contradiction to the dry skin of eczema. However, sweat is one of the primary triggers in most forms of eczema.

When the body overheats, the skin produces salty water to cool itself. Dirt and germs combine with the sweat and irritate your skin and inhibits its ability to moisturize and heal itself. The result is dry, itchy eczema.

While the obvious answer may seem to reduce sweat, that is not the correct one. Sweat is typically the result of being active, which is essential to keeping yourself and your skin healthy.

However, you can reduce your sweat during periods of non-activity. For example, try to keep your indoor climate (when there is no fresh air to soothe your skin) cool.

Also, try to wear light, loose, and breathable clothing. 100% cotton and other natural fibers will give you the best breathability.

This will help vent your body’s natural heat, reducing the tendency to sweat. Furthermore, the breathability will help stop sweat and stop the skin agitation.

Just like sweat, the sun can also cause difficulties. The sun provides your body with natural and nourishing vitamins like D, but too much sun can very quickly dry out your skin.

The only defense is to use a safe moisturizer to keep the skin lubricated throughout your summer play. However, oil based moisturizers can cause sunburn.

A better alternative is to use a zinc based moisturizer. Zinc itself has amazing eczema healing properties and has a natural SPF of 40.

Winter

It is amazing that a season so different from summer can have the identical, eczema-causing issues. Sun and sweat are not the problem in the winter. However, their cousins, non-breathability and elemental dryness, are.

When the temperatures drop, it is natural to bundle up in layers of warm clothes. However, the more clothes you pile on the less your skin can breathe and cool itself.

If you put on too many layers, especially of artificial fibers, those clothes are going to cause sweat-related irritation just like you suffered from in the summer.

Finding a mid-weight, natural fiber sweater and a cotton undershirt will be much more effective than piling on layers and layers. Of course, clothing is only half the problem.

The cold winter winds chap your skin and then you retreat indoors where the heater is literally zapping every ounce of moisture from the environment, including your skin.

Once again, the only solution is moisturizer. You must apply and reapply your moisturizer throughout the day.

This is especially true for eczema on eyelids where the cold, dry weather will cause your eyes to tear up.

Your salty tears are chilled by the winter temperatures.

The constant exposure to cold saline will agitate the skin, having a drying effect and cause a flare up.

Putting on a thick layer of a natural lotion will keep a barrier between your skin and the harsh, drying elements around you in the winter.

These are really simple tips. Yet, they can be a really big help. As you can see, it will not be hard for you to care for your skin no matter how extreme the seasons may get.

Being an eczema sufferer should never prevent you from enjoying all the winter or summer has to offer.

I just need some help. my son has been suffering from eczema for 10 years and it is at its worst. number one trigger for him is sweat. when he sweats the eczema gets literally out of control. he starts scratching so much to the point where he is actually bleeding. It has come to a point where he plays , rides bike, skates, etc, and once the flare up starts . he has to shower, i have to load him up with steroid body oil, and give him a Benadryl. He and i are beyond frustration . Don’t know what else to do. Does anyone have any advice? I will take anything.